ANNEX 8

Senate Joint Resolution 89-Seventy-ninth

Congress

Relative to the Formation of an International
Health Organization

WHEREAS pestilence, disease, malnutrition, and death therefrom know no frontiers; and

WHEREAS the pressing health and medical-social problems of the world will continue for years to come; and

WHEREAS health is essential for the well-being, progress, and prosperity of nations and for good relations between nations; and

WHEREAS the reconstruction of national and international health services and the solution of health problems would be a significant contribution to world peace; and

WHEREAS no single international health organization now exists which can coordinate effectively national and international health programs and organizations; and

WHEREAS the United Nations Conference in San Francisco adopted a recommendation to convene a conference to draw up the statutes of an International Health Organization: Therefore be it

Resolved By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there should be the speedy convening of such a conference and the early formation of an International Health Organization as one of the objectives of the United Nations Organization, and that the President is hereby requested, on behalf of the Government of the United States, to urge upon the United Nations Organization the prompt convening of such conference and the formation of such an organization.

ANNEX 9

Proposals for the Establishment of an International Health Organization of the United Nations

Submitted by Dr. Thomas Parran to the Technical
Preparatory Committee

FOREWORD

The following proposals have been prepared as a possible basis of discussion in the Technical Preparatory Committee pursuant to the resolution approved by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations on 15 February 1946, directing the Committee to prepare draft annotated agenda and proposals for an international conference for the establishment of a single international health organization of the United Nations.

For maximum effectiveness, the health organization should have as wide authority and freedom of action as are compatible with the spirit and objectives of the United Nations. Its status should be that of a specialized agency. This is implied in the wording of Article 57 of the Charter of the United Nations. The proposals which follow are drafted therefore in accordance with this fundamental assumption.

PREAMBLE

The States parties to these proposals recognize that international co-operation and joint action in the furtherance of all matters pertaining to health will raise the standards of living, will promote the freedom, the dignity, and the happiness of all peoples, and will further the attainment of peace, security, and understanding among the peoples of the world.

They are determined to fulfill the high aims and purposes of the United Nations in regard to health, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations.

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For these reasons, they hereby establish the International Health Organization of the United Nations and agree to support its purposes and to participate in its functions as expressed in these proposals.

I. PURPOSES

The purposes of the International Health Organization should be: (a) to improve the physical and mental health of all peoples through international collaboration and mutual assistance; (b) to prevent the occurrence and spread of disease;

(c) to stimulate the development and improvement of health services throughout the world; and

(d) to make available to all countries information, counsel, and assistance on problems pertaining to health and medical care.

II. FUNCTIONS

To achieve these purposes, the International Health Organization should:

(a) upon request, assist countries in developing their health services, and in dealing with epidemics and other health emergencies; (b) undertake to perform such duties with respect to international health and sanitary conventions or other agreements concerning health as the parties to such conventions or agreements may assign to the Organization;

(c) establish and maintain an epidemiological and statistical service for the collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of information pertaining to health, medicine, and related subjects;

(d) develop, establish, and promote standards, for international usage, with respect to drugs and biologic products in general use, nomenclature of diseases and public health terms, diagnostic procedures, and any other appropriate matter within the scope of the Organization;

(e) co-operate with other international organizations or agencies in developing standards of human dietary requirements, working conditions, housing, or other factors which may affect physical or mental health;

(f) promote research and develop the interchange of information among States with respect to health and medical subjects;

(g) foster professional education through improved standards of teaching and training in the health professions, through fellowships, study tours, and exchanges of visits, and through other practicable means;

(h) establish and maintain effective collaboration with the United Nations and with its affiliated organizations, with national health agencies, and with such other organizations as may be deemed appropriate; and

(i) take such additional action as may be appropriate to further the purposes of the Organization.

(a) The original Members of the International Health Organization should be those States which participate in the Health Conference and which deposit their respective instruments of acceptance in accordance with Section XVIII of these proposals.

(b) Members of the United Nations which are not original members of the International Health Organization should be admitted to membership by notifying in writing the Secretary-General of the United Nations of their adherence to the Charter of the Organization. The Secretary-General should notify the Director of the Health Organization of any such adherences.

(c) Other States should be permitted to become Members by notify ing the Secretary-General of the United Nations of their desire to adhere to the Charter of the International Health Organization. The Secretary-General should be requested to notify all Members of the International Health Organization of any such applications. Membership should be granted by a vote concurred in by two thirds of the Members of the Governing Body established by Section IV of these proposals.

The work of the International Health Organization (hereinafter called the Organization) should be carried out by:

(a) The Governing Body [Alternate: The Conference]

(b) The Executive Council (hereinafter called the Council)

(c) The Director of the Health Organization (hereinafter called the Director) [Alternate: The Director-General]

(d) The Secretariat.

(a) Composition

V. THE GOVERNING BODY

The Governing Body should be composed of delegates from all Member States of the Organization. Each Member should be represented by one delegate, who should be the Chief Health Officer of the Government of that Member or, if he be unavailable, an alternate appointed on recommendation of the Chief Health Officer. Each Member should be permitted to appoint such advisers as it may deem necessary.

[Alternate 1: The Governing Body should be composed of delegates from all Member States. Each Member should be represented by not more than three delegates, one of whom should be the Chief Health Officer of the Government of that Member. Each Member State should have one vote in the Governing Body.]

[Alternate 2: The Governing Body should be composed of delegates from all Member States. Each Member should be represented by not more than three delegates. In selecting their delegates, due regard should be paid by the Member States to the technical nature of the work of the Governing Body. Each Member State should have one vote in the Governing Body.]

(b) Meetings

The Governing Body should meet in regular session at least once each year. [Alternate: every two years]

(c) Functions

The Governing Body should:

(i) determine the broad policies of the Organization;

(ii) elect the members of the Council and appoint the Director; (iii) review reports and activities of the Council and of the Director; instruct the Council in regard to matters upon which action, study, investigation, and report may be considered desirable; and vote the budget of the Organization; (iv) have the authority to adopt regulations prescribing:

(1) standard quarantine requirements and other procedures designed to prevent the international spread of disease;

(2) nomenclature with respect to diseases, causes of mortality, diagnostic procedures and public health terms used in official reports of Member States;